Bitter Gourd Fry !

Hagalakayi / Kakarakaya / Karela / Pakarakai / pavakka / Bitter gourd  or Bitter melon :-) whichever language & whatever you call it …The taste doesn't change..Yes, I mean it & I also know that many of you avoid Bitter Gourd, because of it's taste…If that is the case… try it once…Though, they taste bitter, they are a pack of antioxidants and essential vitamins.

Here I am rolling out the spicy recipe of Bitter Gourd fry…

Bitter Gourd fry

Ingredients :

Bitter Gourd / Karela - 3 ( long & medium sized )

Grated dry coconut - 3 table spoons

Garlic Cloves - 1 to 2

Jeera / Cumin seeds - 1 tea spoon

Dry Red Chilli - 2

Peanuts - 2 table spoons

Curry Leaves - 2 to 3

Red Chilli powder - 2 table spoons

Dhaniya / Coriander powder - 1/2 table spoon

Turmeric Powder - 1 tea spoon

Chopped coriander leaves - 2 table spoons

Sesame seeds powder - 1 tea spoon

Jaggery - 1 table spoon ( powdered / grated ) (OPTIONAL)

Oil - 1 table spoon

Salt - As per the taste.

Preparation :

- Slice the bitter gourd into round pieces.

- Add the turmeric powder & salt to the bitter gourd slices.

- Slightly crush and mix the salt & turmeric powder through the bitter gourd slices & keep them aside.

- Grind the Red chili powder, jeera, grated coconut & garlic cloves in a  blender (Don't add any water).

- Heat the oil in the pan & add peanuts , dry red chilli, curry leaves and fry for 1 minute.

- Add the bitter gourd slices to the pan & stir them once, through the seasoning.

- Cover the pan with a lid and let the bitter gourd pieces to cook for some time.

- Occasionally stir the slices, if it is too dry just sprinkle some water (not much), so that bitter gourd pieces won't burn.

- Once the slices are cooked ( you can observe shrinked & deep colored slices ), add coriander powder, ground coconut & red chili powder mix to the bitter gourd slices and stir once.

- Taste the fry & adjust the salt if needed.

- Cover the fry with the lid and let it cook under a low heat so that, it doesn't burn.

- If required sprinkle little water.

- Once you observe the fry is almost done ,  add the sesame seeds powder to the bitter gourd fry & stir once.

- BEFORE ADDING THE 'Sesame powder' , if you prefer the bitter gourd fry to be sweetened, add the jaggery to the fry at this point, stir once & then add the sesame seeds powder.

- We prefer to eat spicy bitter gourd fry , so I didn't add the jaggery.

- Let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes and turn off the heat & add the chopped coriander leaves.

That is all, Bitter Gourd fry is ready ….Those who don't like to eat bitter gourd..try to add Bitter gourd to your veggie pallet for enormous health benefits !